September 11th, 2009 — Queen Victoria Stamps, Stamp Collecting, UK Great Britain
For collectors of stamps from Great Britain, perhaps the most desirable stamp of all is the Queen Victoria Stamp. This is a rare stamp that was first made in 1840. The original value was one penny, but since that time these stamps have become much more expensive. You can easily expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on an authentic Queen Victoria stamp.
While there are many of these available, it is important to know whether or not you have an authentic Queen Victoria stamp on your hands, or if it is a fake. Here are some easy guidelines to help you determine not only the authenticity of your stamp but whether or not it will be worth a great deal of money.
1. Overall Condition
Queen Victoria stamps that are in great condition will obviously sell for more money. If you are a serious collector with money to spend, look for an extremely fine or very fine condition stamp. These will typically have very small perforations on the edge and the entire stamp will be very clean looking and in overall good condition.
However, if the stamp is too perfect, you may not be dealing with an authentic Queen Victoria stamp. There should be some age and wear to the item if it is authentic.
2. Look for adhesive.
One of the world’s first adhesive stamps was the Queen Victoria stamp and these are worth an incredible amount of money. Ideally, you should look for one that has the majority of the gum intact, since these will be worth the most money. However, even stamps that only have a small amount of adhesive can still be worth a pretty penny.
If the adhesive is not dark colored, as it would be with age, this is a sign that it may have been added recently. Remember, if it looks too new – chances are that it is.
3. Avoid faults.
Unless you are merely collecting Queen Victoria stamps for the fun of it, you should avoid faults. These are imperfections that are the result of age and handling, and not from the original designer. If the stamp is torn, or has creases, it will be worth less money. However, little things like having a hinge still intact may actually increase the overall value of the stamp.
This is one case where perfection makes it easy to spot a fake. While collectors always look for Queen Victoria stamps that are in close to perfect condition, they will still have some age since they are so old. Avoid any stamps that are completely perfect.
Stamp collecting should be fun, so first and foremost remember that if you do come across an authentic Queen Victoria stamp, even if it was used on a postcard it is still a rare find. Take good care of it and you never know, it may increase in value over time. These rare stamps are a lot of fun to collect.
Originally posted 2008-08-24 05:00:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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September 10th, 2009 — European Stamps, Spain Stamps, Stamp Collecting
When looking for old Spain stamps, online auctions like eBay are a great place to search. Often, auctions are in lots so you get several stamps to add to your collection, often from many different countries and time periods. Some stamps can also be purchased individually, with or without ready-made displays. With a little research and some time spent browsing the auctions, you can find an excellent deal on the stamps you want to buy.
Queen Isabella II, the Queen of Spain, issued a decree in 1849 for the use of postage stamps on correspondence. After watching England first embrace the use of the postage stamp, starting in 1840, and then seeing that use spread to France, the Queen of Spain decided after 9 years that it was a good idea, so she got her country on board by approving the first Spain stamps.
In the two months between the decree and the actual issuance of stamps in early 1850, many rules were handed down about their use. In this time is was decreed that they were to go on the top left corner of the letter, and they could only be used to mail pre-paid letters within Spain, and to Italy. The two original designs on Spain stamps were reproduced 100 years later, in 1950, to celebrate 100 years of stamps, and then in 1964 for International Stamp Day
The Spanish Penny Black, named after the first postage stamp in Great Britain, bears an image of the queen, just as most Spain stamps did until she abdicated the throne in 1868. During the time when here face graced these stamps, a special postmark was used that wold not deface the image of the stamp, but rather frame her face respectfully, by her own request. She didn’t want the image of her face on each stamp to be marked over by a “demeaning” cancel mark. Metallic ink was first used on Spain stamps in 1853 when reduced cost stamps bearing Madrid’s coat of arms were printed for letters delivered within the city.
Spain stamps were changed yearly because officials were afraid of forgery. This resulted in Spain’s high creation of stamps—285 different stamps in 20 years, making them less than sought after by early collectors. In 1966 on the anniversary of the first postage stamp in the world, the Penny Black, Spain issued 3 commemorative stamps for International Stamp Day, in which the covers and postmarks were reproduced, something not yet done in stamp design, so these are interesting for collectors based on that alone.
When shopping for Spain stamps, note how the auction lists the condition of the stamp, whether or not gumming remains on the back, whether or not it’s alone or in a sheet or coil, and the general condition of the stamp. Also, if it’s in a lot, clarify if the lot is all Spain stamps, or if they’re from a variety of sources. And don’t discount lots of mixed stamps, sometimes you’ll find an unexpected treasure in them.
Originally posted 2008-10-15 05:00:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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